The Weight of Doubt
The moment Austin stepped out, Dora didn’t waste a second. She moved quickly, locking the door behind him with a sharp click. Her heart raced as she turned back to the closet, her hands moving almost on their own. She reached for the box tucked away in the corner, the one she hadn’t dared to open in months. Against her better judgment, she lifted the lid, her breath catching as she saw the contents. The photos, the notes, the memories, all still there, untouched. But what made her stomach twist was the small, empty packet at the bottom. It was from that night, the one she had tried so hard to forget. Why did he still have it? Did he keep it on purpose, or was it just an oversight? She shook her head, trying to push the thought away.
“Stop overthinking,” she muttered to herself, closing the box and shoving it back into the closet. She couldn’t let herself get caught up in the past. Not now. Not when she had so much to figure out.
She turned her attention to the clothes Austin had left for her. Pink. Her favorite color. She ran her fingers over the soft fabric, a small scoff escaping her lips. “He thinks this will win me over? Please.” But even as she said it, she couldn’t deny the faint warmth that spread through her chest. She hated that he still knew her so well.
When she stepped out of the room, she found Austin in the kitchen, sipping tea and scrolling through his phone. He looked up as she entered, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. A small, satisfied smile played on his lips, as if he were pleased with himself. Dora ignored him, focusing instead on Ann, who greeted her with a cheerful, “Good morning!”
“Your food’s cold,” Ann said, gesturing to the plate on the table. “Should I heat it up? Sir mentioned you don’t like cold food.”
Dora forced a smile, though her tone was sharp. “Sir doesn’t know me as well as he thinks. I’m not a picky eater like him.” She sat down, avoiding Austin’s gaze, but she could feel his eyes on her.
“Good to know,” he said, his voice calm but laced with something she couldn’t quite place.
She blinked, caught off guard by his response. “Good to know you still remember I’m a picky eater,” he added, his tone light but his words deliberate. Dora’s chest tightened. She hadn’t meant to let that slip, to reveal that she still remembered the little things about him.
“Why should I care what he likes or doesn’t?” she thought, stabbing at her food with more force than necessary. She knew arguing with him was pointless. He always found a way to turn her words against her.
Austin glanced at the clock, his expression shifting as he realized they were running late. “Ann,” he called out, setting his phone down. “Why don’t you pack her lunch? I’ll take care of the tea.”
Dora’s frown deepened. “I don’t need your help. I can manage on my own.”
He ignored her, pouring tea into her cup with a steady hand. “I know you can,” he said, his voice even. “But that lunch isn’t for you. It’s for my child.”
The words hit her like a slap. She straightened in her chair, her eyes narrowing. “Who said it’s yours?”
The room went still. Austin’s hand froze mid-air, the cup he was holding trembling slightly. For a moment, all she could see was the storm brewing in his eyes, the calm facade cracking under the weight of her words.
“Say that again,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “I dare you.”
Dora’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t meant to push him this far, but the words had spilled out before she could stop them. She stood, her chair scraping against the floor as she tried to put distance between them. But Austin was faster, closing the gap in two strides and trapping her between himself and the table.
“If you still doubt me,” he said, his voice cold and steady, “I can prove it to you right here, right now. And I won’t care who’s watching.”
Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she searched for a way out. But there was none. She was trapped, not just by his body but by the intensity in his eyes, the raw emotion she hadn’t expected to see.
“I know you don’t trust me,” he said, his voice softening just enough to make her chest ache. “I know I’ve failed you. But don’t you dare question her loyalty. She’s many things, but she’s not a cheater.”
Dora’s throat tightened, her defiance crumbling under the weight of his words. She wanted to argue, to push back, but the look in his eyes stopped her. There was anger, yes, but also something deeper, something that made her wonder if she’d misjudged him all along.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
